On Mon, 16 Sep 2013 16:44:20 +0000 Chris Harris <chris_harri...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi there. > > Tried sending a blank email, but do not think it has worked as I never > received a reply. So I am trying the direct approach. > > I am trying to write a novel using openoffice, 4.0.0, on a Windows7 x64 > laptop, saving each chapter as a discrete file. > > I would like to be able to have an updatable chapter summary at the top of > the chapters. I have an individual file with this data, which I would like to > be able to update from the chapter summary. ie if I have a briliant idea, I > can add it to that chapters summary, which in turn will update the summary > file, this amended summary then needs to update all the chapter heading > summaries. > > Next I have a file with character notes/bio's. Again I need to be able to > amend this whilst writing. ie, I am writing something about a character, and > want to save a particular word or character detail, so click on characters > name which then opens up the character file and I can update the file. > > I suspect that I need to use the hyperlink function in some way, maybe you > can give me some advice as to the best way to do this? > > I could of course use an index card system, but that would inhibit the flow, > as it were, especially as copy and paste would be so much more efficient. > > I have given each chapter a title and number, but in going over what I have > already written, I am thinking I want to change chapter1 to chapter 5 and > move chapter 4 to chapter1...or at least move things around. Any ideas as to > how this could be best done. I am thinking I should simply have used the > chapter title as the file name, deciding on the actual chapter order/number > when satisfied with the whole book. > > Has anyone got any experience of using openoffice for novel writing? > > Appreciate any help you can give me. > > Thanks C Harris. > > In haste: You could combine your separate chapters using the Master Document structure of OpenOffice. To relocate an enttire chapter then would simply be a matter of moving the line in the Master Document which invokes that chapter. I've never used Master Documents - I keep my related writings all in the one file (file size typically 20 chapters 100K); I currently am editing one file (assembly of another author's works, for my own use, not for publication) of 3000+ pages, 14 volumes, 1,000,000 words. Slow to load and save on current computer (25 seconds) which is vintage 2001 so not the fastest/ I have others, but this one is on my working desk. To keep track of timelines etc I make liberal use of Comments (/Insert /Comment). I'm brooding on a modification to this function to allow the one user change the colour of comments so that a particular theme would use its own background colour. -- Rory O'Farrell <ofarr...@iol.ie> --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org
